An Seo-hyun
Mija
Overview
A young girl named Mija risks everything to prevent a powerful, multi-national company from kidnapping her best friend - a massive animal named Okja.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
6 min readThe Super-Pig and the Girl Who Loved It
I keep thinking about the way Okja moves. Not the CGI—though that’s impressive—but the way she is in the world. She lumbers, she rolls, she snuffles with a wet, snorting curiosity that feels entirely real, even when she’s doing something impossible, like scaling a mountain or leaping from a bridge.
There’s a moment early in Okja where Mija, the girl who raised her, rides on Okja’s back through a sun-dappled forest, and the camera lingers on the way Okja’s ears twitch at the sound of a bird, the way her massive body sways with the rhythm of Mija’s laughter. It’s a small thing, but it’s the kind of detail that makes you believe in this creature, this bond, this world. And then, of course, the world ruins it.
Bong Joon Ho has never been a director who lets you settle into comfort. His films are like those dreams where you’re running from something terrible, but your legs won’t move fast enough—just when you think you’ve found a moment of warmth, the ground gives way beneath you. Okja is no different. It starts as a fairy tale, a story about a girl and her gentle giant, but it’s also a heist movie, a corporate satire, a dark comedy, and, in its final act, a brutal indictment of the meat industry.
The tonal whiplash is intentional, I think. Bong wants you to feel the disorientation of a world where love and exploitation are two sides of the same coin.
The film’s premise is deceptively simple: Mija, a quiet, stubborn girl living in the South Korean mountains with her grandfather, has spent the last ten years caring for Okja, a genetically engineered "super-pig" created by the Mirando Corporation. When the company decides to take Okja back to New York for a publicity stunt (and eventual slaughter), Mija refuses to let her go. What follows is a globetrotting chase, as Mija teams up with the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), a group of well-meaning but bumbling activists, to rescue Okja from the clutches of corporate greed.
Along the way, the film takes aim at everything from capitalism to performative activism to the absurdity of late-stage consumer culture.
But here’s the thing: Okja isn’t just a polemic. It’s a film that understands the messy, contradictory nature of human emotion. Mija’s love for Okja isn’t abstract—it’s tactile, physical, rooted in the daily rituals of care.
We see her washing Okja in a river, feeding her, even sleeping curled up against her side. When Okja is taken, Mija doesn’t just want her back; she needs her, in the way a child needs a parent or a person needs a home. And yet, the film never lets us forget that Okja is, at the end of the day, a product.
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBong Joon Ho’s "Okja": Behind the Scenes of the Netflix-Cannes Showdown and a Super-Pig’s Journey
Bong Joon Ho’s Okja (2017) is a film that defies easy categorization—part eco-fable, part corporate satire, and a full-throttle adventure. But beyond its whimsical premise (a young girl bonds with a genetically engineered "super-pig"), the movie’s production and release were just as unconventional as its story. From Netflix’s battle with Cannes to the cast’s reactions to Bong’s meticulous direction, latestnetflix.com contends, Okja left its mark on Hollywood long before it hit screens.
The Netflix-Cannes Feud: A Festival Showdown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtJnJqpCstk
Okja became the center of a major industry controversy when Netflix’s decision to release the film simultaneously in theaters and on its platform clashed with Cannes’ traditional rules. The festival initially banned Netflix films from competition, arguing that they undermined the theatrical experience . Bong Joon Ho, however, stood by Netflix, calling the platform a "powerful ally" for independent filmmakers . The standoff highlighted the growing tension between streaming giants and the old guard of cinema, with Okja caught in the middle. Despite the drama, the film premiered at Cannes to mixed but passionate reactions, proving that even a corporate-backed movie could spark real debate.
The Cast on Working with Bong Joon Ho
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_BRul8aSAY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK2MLBxhEyw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbEWyqi7u8I
The ensemble cast—including Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal, and newcomer An Seo-hyun—had nothing but praise for Bong’s collaborative approach. In a behind-the-scenes featurette, Swinton described him as a "gentle genius," while Gyllenhaal joked about the director’s ability to balance humor and horror in the same scene . An Seo-hyun, who played the lead role of Mija, later revealed that Bong spent months preparing her for the physically demanding role, including training with real animals to build authenticity . The director’s hands-on style extended to every detail, from the design of Okja herself (a mix of CGI and practical effects) to the film’s sharp social commentary .
A Super-Pig’s Legacy: More Than Just a Movie
Okja wasn’t just a critical talking point—it was a statement. The film’s critique of industrial agriculture and corporate greed resonated with audiences, even as its fantastical tone kept it from feeling preachy . Rotten Tomatoes users rated it a solid 7/10, with many praising its bold visuals and emotional core 
. Yet, for all its acclaim, Okja remains a divisive entry in Bong’s filmography, a movie that’s equal parts heartwarming and unsettling .
Whether you see it as a children’s adventure or a scathing satire, Okja’s behind-the-scenes story is just as compelling as its on-screen drama. From festival politics to a director’s unwavering vision, it’s a film that refused to play by the rules.
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